Azimio Presidential candidate Raila Odinga has appointed former Jubilee Secretary General Raphael Tuju as the Executive Director of the Azimio Secretariat.
Raila announced the appointment on Wednesday, April 6, noting that it was effective immediately. The position will see Tuju oversee the daily operations of the campaign - similar to the role played by Nelson Magaya as the CEO of the National Super Alliance (NASA).
The former Jubilee boss will work alongside Laikipia Governor Ndiritu Muriithi, who chairs Raila's campaign board - as well as Prof Makau Mutua who is the campaign spokesperson and head of the team's think tank.
Former Jubilee Party Secretary General, Raphael Tuju, has landed a plum role in Azimio la Umoja One Kenya months after resigning from the ruling party.
Addressing the media on Tuesday, April 5, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka revealed that the former SG will head a special committee tasked with leading the coalition's nomination strategy.
He disclosed that the coalition will adopt zoning in some parts of the country to ensure that it is guaranteed to win a majority of seats in the August 9 polls and to tame fallouts that follow party primaries.
Kalonzo further disclosed that the committee will begin meetings in the coming weeks with each affiliate party having a representative.
"We have nominated Raphael Tuju to sit as the chair of the committee and he will be assisted by various political parties' Secretary Generals," the former Vice President stated.
Additionally, the Wiper boss revealed that the coalition will only have one candidate in some counties to ensure that the Kenya Kwanza Alliance faction led by Deputy President William Ruto does not clinch top seats in the areas.
"We are going to look into all this and the coalition political party will have to agree on one single candidate and running mate. For example, Nakuru, Nairobi, and Mombasa.
"If all the parties field candidates in some areas, we give advantage to somebody else. These are matters of strategy and we are going to look into all this,” he stated.
With his latest appointment, the Tuju-led committee will play a critical role in key areas where Azimio affiliate parties have strong candidates contesting for the same seat such as the Nairobi gubernatorial seat. The seat has attracted Jubilee's Richard Ngatia, Westland MP Timothy Wanyonyi of ODM, and Mike Sonko of the Wiper party.
During the announcement of his exit from the ruling party, Tuju noted that he was looking into other interests as speculations emerged that he would vie for a political seat in the August 9 polls.
He thanked President Uhuru Kenyatta for trusting him in managing his campaigns during the 2017 General Election.
"The President has believed so much in uniting this country that he has been ready to reach out to those who are his opponents. This is not a new thing, it is something he started in 2012-2013," he stated
In turn, the President asked former Prime Minister Raila Odinga to help Tuju attain his political ambitions.
"Baba (Raila) this is our person from Jubilee help him, please. Joho I am giving you that job. Take care of my person," he stated.
